Caladium plant named ‘White Marble’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘White Marble’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant habit; vigorous growth habit; undulate strap-like leaves; and green and white-colored leaves.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘White Marble’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a strap-leaf Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘White Marble’.

The new Caladium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2001, in Lake Placid, Fla. of the Caladium×hortulanum cultivar Grey Ghost, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Caladium×hortulanum cultivar Lance Whorton, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Lake Placid, Fla. on Jun. 15, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tuber divisions in a controlled environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2003 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar White Marble has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘White Marble’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘White Marble’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Undulate strap-like leaves.     -   4. Green and white-colored leaves.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed from plants of the female parent, the cultivar Grey Ghost, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more compact than plants of         the cultivar Grey Ghost.     -   2. Leaves of the plants of the new Caladium were strap-like         whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Grey Ghost were fancy         types.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more undulate than         leaves of plants of the cultivar Grey Ghost.     -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more rugose and         more textured in appearance than leaves of plants of the         cultivar Grey Ghost.     -   5. Plants of the new Caladium and the cultivar Grey Ghost         differed in leaf coloration.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed from plants of the male parent, the cultivar Lance Whorton, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Under high light conditions, plants of the new Caladium were         taller than plants of the cultivar Lance Whorton.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and of the cultivar Lance Whorton         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Lance         Whorton had pink-colored leaves with red-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of the cultivar White Wing, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed from plants of the cultivar White Wing in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were larger than plants of the         cultivar White Wing.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and the cultivar White Wing         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar White Wing         had creamy white and green-colored leaves with pink to         white-colored venation.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium had longer leaf petioles than         plants of the cultivar White Wing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘White Marble’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Marble’ grown in a ground beds in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘White Marble’.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view of typical tubers of ‘White Marble’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Lake Placid, Fla. during the spring in a polyethylene-covered shadehouse and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 21° C. to 38° C., night temperatures ranged from about 10° C. to 21° C. and light levels about 8,000 foot-candles. Plants were about seven weeks from planting tubers when the photographs and the detailed description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum cultivar White Marble. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum cultivar Grey             Ghost, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum cultivar Lance             Whorton, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tuber divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tube description.—Number of buds per tuber: About eight             actively growing buds/shoots and about twelve dormant buds.             Height: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 4.2 cm. Texture:             Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Epidermis, 200B;             interior, 4D. Root description/habit: Dense, thick and white             fleshy roots with finer lateral roots. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching plant             habit. Vigorous growth habit; suitable for 10-cm to 25-cm             containers. Mostly upright leaf petioles.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plant.—About 29             cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of             inflorescences.—About 39 cm.         -   Plant spread.—About 40 cm.         -   Cataphylls.—Length: About 7.5 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm.             Shape: Linear to elliptic. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Sheathing             the stem. Color, outer surface: 177D to 197C to 197D;             streaks, N186B. Color, inner surface: 170D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length.—About 12.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 10.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; rugose giving a             textured appearance.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous; rugose             giving a textured appearance.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Margins: 147A to             147B. Center: Intervenal areas, 145D, often suffused with             137A; random white spots, N155A. Venation: Lateral veins,             193A; areas surrounding veins, 145D; veins at the petiole             attachment, 155D, notch tinged with 59C; midrib, 193A to             193B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Margins: 191A.             Center: Intervenal areas, 191C to 191D with random areas of             137B; random white spots, N155A. Venation: Laterals and             midvein, 147C to 144C; areas surrounding veins, 155C; veins             at the petiole attachment, 193A to 147C, notch tinged with             59C. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Margins: 147A.             Center: Intervenal areas, 193D, often suffused with 137A;             random white spots, N155A to N155C. Venation: Lateral veins,             193A; areas surrounding veins, 193D; veins at the petiole             attachment, 155C, notch, 60A; midrib, 193B. Fully developed             leaves, lower surface: Margins: 191A. Center: Intervenal             areas, 191C to 191D with random areas of 189A; random white             spots, N155A. Venation: Laterals and midvein, 193A; areas             surrounding veins, 193D; veins at the petiole attachment,             147C and 195B, notch, 60A to 183A.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, outwardly arching with             development. Length: About 23 cm. Diameter, distal: About             3.2 mm. Diameter, proximal: About 1.2 cm. Strength: Strong,             flexible. Color: 177D and 147C; bars and streaks, N186A to             N186B. Wing length: About 4.5 cm. Wing diameter: About 6 mm.             Wing color, outer and inner surface: 147C to 177D; streaks,             N186B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Hooded spathes surrounding a             columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape. Spadix with             sessile, simple female and male flowers separated into two             zones. Female flowers arranged on the lower one-third of the             spadix; male flowers arranged on the upper two-thirds of the             spadix. Sterile flowers develop between female and male             flower zones; near this areas, the spathe constricts             surrounding the female flowers.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season/longevity.—Plants of the new             Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer             in central Florida. Flowers develop about eight to nine             weeks after growth commences. Inflorescences last about             three days before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 10.7 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Tapering. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             developing, front surface: Upper two-thirds: 145D tinged             with 155B. Lower one-third: 147B to 147C flushed with N77A.             When developing, rear surface: Upper two-thirds: 145D. Lower             one-third: 146A to 147B. Fully developed, front surface:             Upper two-thirds: 145D tinged with 155A; with development,             199D tinged with 145D. Lower one-third: 147B to 147C flushed             with N77A. Fully opened, rear surface: Upper two-thirds:             155A tinged with 145D; with development, 199D tinged with             145D. Lower one-third: 147B.         -   Spadix.—Length, entire spadix: About 7.4 cm. Length, male             flower zone: About 5.3 cm. Length, sterile flower zone:             About 1.2 cm. Length, female flower zone: About 9 mm.             Diameter, male flower zone: About 9 mm. Diameter, sterile             flower zone: About 6.7 mm. Diameter, female flower zone:             About 7 mm. Shape: Columnar. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse.             Aspect: Upright. Color: Immature, male zone: 8D tinged with             150C. Immature, female zone: 158D. Mature, male zone: 4D.             Mature, female zone: 158B.         -   Female flowers.—Quantity per spadix: About 50. Shape: Ovate             to elliptic. Height: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Stigma color: 8C. Ovary color: 158B.         -   Male flowers.—Quantity per spadix: About 84. Shape: Obovate;             inverted triangle. Height: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Anther color: 4D. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen             color: 11C.         -   Scape.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength:             Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;             glaucous. Color: 177D and 147C; bars and streaks, N186A to             N186B.         -   Seed and fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to be somewhat tolerant to Pythium root rot and Xanthomonas     leaf spot. Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed to be     resistant to pests or other pathogens common to Caladium. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40°     C. 

1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘White Marble’ as illustrated and described. 